Knitting machine



March 9, 1937. R. H. LAWSON ET AL 2,073,488

KNITTING MACHINE Filed March 2, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 fA/YENTWPS: I"RMERTHZAWMA;

March 9, 1937. R. H. LAWSON ET AL 2,073,488

KNITTING MACHINE Filed March 2, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 9, 1937. R.H. LAWSON ET AL 2,073,488

KNITTING MACHINE Filed March 2, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 16.3. I I I F QQQQes 1 Q l I l 2 61 I J I I- 1/ \5 u as O Q l I i I 2) 1 6 l I; III! 3 IfNvEA/Tms: P0352275! ZAWsMgI Roy/'7 Lox ELL,

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March 9, 1937. R. H. LAWSON ET AL 2,073,488

KNITTING MACHINE Filed March 2, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 4 fHYENTdRS:RMERTH ZA W501! Roy E Z 0 MIL By a Patented Mar. 9, 1937 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE I KNITTING MACHINE Massachusetts Application March 2,1934, Serial No. 713,726

13 Claims.

This invention relates to knitting machines and especially to knittingmachines of the type disclosed in the Hemphill Patent 933,443, September7, 1909 and wherein the needle cylinder reciprocates to effect theknitting of so-called split-foot work.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation showing the path taken by the threadon its way to the needles of the knitting machine;

Fig. 2 is a view in rear elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view in front elevation, relatively enlarged, showing aportion only of the mechanisms shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the latchring in an elevated, inoperative position;

Fig. 5 is a detail fragmentary view showing one of the supportingbrackets shown in Fig. 1 depending from which is an indicator or yarnmeasuring device;

Fig. 6 is a detailed fragmentary view partly in section showing theindicator or yarn measuring device;

Fig. 7 is a view in plan showing a bracket which carries a threadmarking device;

Fig. 8 is a view in rear elevation of the thread marking device shown inFig. 7 and Fig. 9 is a fragmentary view partly in section taken alongthe line 9-9, Fig. '1.

The knitting machine indicated generally by the numeral I is providedwith a stationary, socalled circular base 2 in which is a ring gear 5(not shown) for imparting rotary and reciprocatory movements to theneedle cylinder 3 in slots of which are needles (not shown) said needlesbeing moved by suitable cams to effect the knitting of fabric. At therear portion of 40 the circular base is fixed an upstanding andstationary bracket arm 4 to which is pivoted as at 5 a latch ring 6.Vertically movable blocks 1, 'I' (Fig. 2) have attached thereto splitportions 8, 8 of a cam ring upon which are mounted main 4:; andauxiliary cam assemblies 9 and I0 respectively. The cams constitutingthe cam assembly 9, preferably, knit the heel and toe portion of asglit-foot stocking as well as the sole thereof and the cam assembly l8controls the needles to 60 knit the leg and instep portion. Mounted uponand upstanding from an extension of the circular base 2 is a post llupon the. upper portion of which is fixed a stand or bracket 12 uponwhich are mounted several parts hereinafter to 58 be more specificallydescribed. The so-called 104 gear I3 is mounted in the frame of themachine and its shaft I4 is geared to rotate four turns to one of theneedle cylinder.

Mounted in the latch ring 6 above the auxiliary cam assembly I0 is ayarn lever l5 by which 5 the leg and instep yarn l6.is fed to theneedles of the knitting machine. The thread or yarn l6 passes from asource of thread supply (not shown) through thread eyelets I1 and I8carried by arms upstanding from a bracket is which 10 is fastened tobracket l2 as by means of screws 20. Fastened to and upstanding from thebracket I9 and between the eyelets l1 and I8 is the thread tensionmechanism 2| which removes the kinks in the thread. The said tensionmechal5 nism 2| comprises discs 22 normally retained in contact by meansof a coil spring 23. From the eyelet I8 the thread l6 passes through anopening 24 (Fig. 9), under the laterally extending portion of anL-shaped rod 25 then through an 20 opening 26. The openings 24 and 26are provided in a tubular shaped receptacle 2'! which is fastened to aplate 28 as by screws 29, the plate 28 being in turn fastened to bracketl2 as by means of screws 30. Within the .recepg tacle or housing 21 aretwo parallelly disposed plates 3|, 32 which together with opposite wallsof receptacle 21, constitute a container for a transient dye such as 33.A pin 34 passes transversely across and is supported in opposite walls30 of the housing 21, said pin 34 constituting a convenient means forsupporting a wick 35 of absorbent material, the walls 3|, 32 serving toretain the wick in position. As shown in Fig.

9 the L-shaped rod 25 is in engagement with 35 the thread l6 momentarilyretaining the same in contact with the upper surface of the wick, 35 forthe purpose and in a manner hereinafter to be more fully described. TheL-shaped rod 25 is adjustably fastened to a laterally extending block 36as by means of a set screw 31, a second set screw 38 serving to retainthe block 36 in adjustable engagement with a downwardly extending rod39. A collar 40 is adjustably fastened to a rod 39 as by means of ascrew 4|, said collar serving to limit the downward movements of the rodand consequently the rod 25, said rod 39 being urged in a downwarddirection by means of a coil spring 42, the upper por- I tion of whichis in contact with the lower face of the plate 28 and the lower portionof which is in engagement with a second collar 43 which is adjustablyretained in position longitudinally of the rod 39 by means of a screw44. Thus the spring 42 tends to maintain the rod 25 in the the thread I6'shall be marked by the wick 95 in conjunction with a rod 25, the rod39 at its lower end is pivotally connected as at 45 to a lever 46 whichis-pivotally connected at 41 to a bracket arm 48 fastened to the machineframe as by means of a pin 49 which is retained in position in a bracket66 depending from the machine frame as by screw 5|. A screw 52 fastensthe arm 46 to the pin or shaft 49. The bracket 56 is bifurcated asindicated in Fig. 1 and in the bifurcation is mounted the usual wideningpick bracket lever 53 which surrounds the pin or shaft 49. Between theends of the lever 46 is fixed a depending plate 54 as by means of screws55, the lower edge of the said plate 54 having a toe or projection 56which is retained in contact with the surface of a drum or disc 51 bythe spring 42 as described. The shaft I4, upon which the disc or drum 51is mounted, during reciprocation of the needle cylinder, rotates in thedirection of the arrow so that first one notch or recess 58 in the discor drum 5! and then the other and diametrically opposite notch or recess59 is brought opposite the toe 56 whereupon the spring 42 causes the rod39 and consequently the marking rod 25 to be depressed to the positionsshown in Figs. 8 and 9. The provision of two notches 58, 59 permits themarking of opposite sides of the instep thread I6 during the knitting ofeach course of split-foot work.

The marked thread l6 after passing through the opening 26 in thereceptacle 21 passes through two eyelets 60 and then between jaws of alever thread clamp 6| after which it passes through other fixed eyelets62 and an intermediate eyelet 63 which is carried by and forms part ofthe usual thread take-up 64. From the last eyelet 62 the thread l6passes through an eyelet 65 (Fig. 3), through the thread or yarn leverl5 and then to the needles.

An arm 66 constituting part of the bracket l2 has an L-shaped bracket orplate 67 in which is swiveled a pin 68, to which is connected adepending thread indicatoror scale 69. The scale 69 comprises a plateIll more or less U-shaped in cross section fastened to which is a stripor plate II pasted or otherwise secured to the outer face of which is a,strip of paper or other material 12 which has scale markings thereon asindicated in Fig. 3. The plate H has secured thereto a threaded stud 13which is engaged by an internally threaded screw 14 which when turnedinto clamping engagement with a washer "l5 retains the plate 1] in fixedposition with respect to the plate 10. As shown in Fig. 6, the plate 10has a longitudinally extending slot 16 through which the stud 13 passesthus permitting an adjustment of the plate or strip ll lengthwise of theplate 16.

In operation, if the stitch drawing cams l1 and 18 of the auxiliary camassembly iii are drawing the same length of stitch the marking deviceshown in detail in Figs. '7, 8 and 9, periodically marks the thread l6,so that the markings on the thread such as I9, Fig. 3, will show on bothsides of the instep portion equally spaced from the sutures or seamsconnecting the instep and sole portions of the stocking. However, ifeither the cam 11. or the cam 18 has through excessive wear or otherwisebecome out of adjustment with respect to the other cam, the markings onopposite sides of the stocking are not equally spaced from the seamsthereof indicating to the operator which of the said cam is drawing thelonger stitch which the operator readily remedies by adjusting the cam"Moi" II as the case may be, along the face of the cam block or camassembly l6. Furthermore, by observing where the thread markings showwith respect to the scale 12 at each reciprocation, it is possible todetermine whether adjacent courses are being knitted with the sameamount of thread. In other words. the markings on the stocking showwhether the stocking was uniformly knitted, whereas the scale indicateswhether the stocking is being uniformly knitted.

Although the invention has been, for convenience, referred to inconnection with a circular independent needle knitting machine adaptedto knit so-called split-foot stockings, it is understood that theinvention in its broader aspects. is concerned with all types ofreciprocatory knitting. Other well known examples of reciprocatoryknitting are: full-fashioned knitting and knitting effected on Burson,Lamb or similar types of knitting machines.

In Fig. 4 the latch ring is shown as having been moved to an elevated,inoperative position,

at which time an unstanding bar or rod 66- which is connected to thelatch ring, engages the outer face of the thread indicator 69 moving thesame to the inclined position shown. In other words, to permit the latchring 6 to be raised it is necessary tohave the indicator 69 pivotally orotherwise movably mounted upon a.

support.

Although in the foregoing description the parts and combinations thereofhave been described in specific terms there has been no intentionthereby to limit the invention to the precise detail of constructionshown.

We claim:

1. A knitting machine having a reciprocatory needle cylinder and adaptedto knit split-foot work, automatically actuated means for marking athread during each reciprocation of the needle cylinder so that themarkings on the thread show the lengths of thread knitted into thefabric during successive reciprocations whereby adjustments can bereadily made to effect the knitting of uniform fabric.

2. A knitting machine adapted to knit split fabric and including aneedle cylinder, means for automatically marking a thread during theknitting of each course of split work knitting. said means including asupply of marking fluid and a reciprocating element adapted periodicallyto cause the thread to contact the marking fluid.

3. A knitting machine adapted to knit splitfoot work including means forautomatically and periodically marking a thread at least onceduring theknitting of each course of split work knit-. ting, the distance betweenadjacent thread markings representing the length of thread knitted intothe fabric during the knitting of a course of split work knitting, sothat by observing the positions of the markings on the thread thewash-board effect in a fabric can be readily eliminated.

4. A knitting machine having two feeding stations at which two threadsare adapted to be simultaneously knitted for the production of splitwork, means for automatically marking a thread during the knitting ofeach course said means including a thread marking device, movable meansfor periodically actuating the thread marking device and connectionsbetween the thread marking device and the said movable means.

5. A knitting machine having two feeding stations at which two threadsare adapted to be simultaneously knitted for the production of splitwork, means for automatically marking a thread during the knitting ofeach course said means including a thread marking device, movable meansfor periodically actuating the thread marking device and connectionsbetween the thread marking device and the said movable means, the saidmovable means including a constantly rotated element having twooppositely disposed conformations to periodically actuate the saidconnections and thread marking means.

6. A two-feed knitting machine having means for feeding at least onethread to some at least of the needles during relative movements betweenthe needles and thread feeding means, in

combination with thread marking means for automatically and periodicallymarking a thread in such a manner as to indicate whether or not thethread is being uniformly knitted into the fabric so that adjustmentscan be readily effected to knit uniform fabric.

7. A two-feed knitting machine adapted to knit split-foot work includingmeans for automatically and periodically marking a thread at least onceduring the knitting of each course of split work knitting, incombination with a scale along which the thread passes, the distancebetween adjacent thread markings representing the length ofthreadknitted into the fabric during the knitting of a course of splitwork knitting, 85 so that by observing'the positions of the markings onthe thread with relation to the scale the wash-board effect in a fabriccan be readily eliminated.

8. A thread marking device for a two-feed split- 40 foot knittingmachine including a marking wick across which a thread moves from thesource of supply to the needles of the knitting machine, in combinationwith an automatically movable member for engaging the thread andpressing 4 it against said wick so that the said thread shall be markedat each operation of the said movable member, the construction andoperation being such that the --thread markings in courses assist theoperator in effecting the knitting of uniform fabric in adjacentcourses.

9. A thread marking device for a two-feed split-foot knitting machineincluding a member s and a marking material across which a thread movesin passing from the source of thread supply to the needles of a knittingmachine, in combination with a movable member for engaging the threadand moving it into contact with the said marking material so that thesaid thread may be marked at each operation of the said movable member,the construction and operation being such that the thread markingsincourses assist the operator in effecting the knitting of uniform fabricin adjacent courses.

10. A thread marking device for a two-feed split-foot knitting machineincluding a member and a marking material across which a thread moves inpassing from the source of thread supply to the needles of a knittingmachine, thread guides on opposite sides of the marking material tomaintain the said thread adjacent to the said marking material, incombination with a movable member for engaging the thread and moving itinto contact with the said marking material so that the said thread maybe marked at each operation of the said movable member, the constructionand operation being such that the thread markings in courses assist theoperator in effecting the knitting of uniform fabric in adiacentcourses.

11. A thread marking device for a two-feed splits-foot knitting machineincluding a receptacle containing a marking fluid and absorbent materialimmersed in the said fluid, the thread in moving from the source ofsupply to the needles of the knitting machine passing adjacent to thereceptacle, in combination with an automatically movable memberforengaging the thread and moving it into contact with the said markingfluid so that the said thread shall be marked at each operation of thesaid movable member, the construction and operation being such that thethread markings in. courses assist the operator in effecting theknitting of uniform fabric in'adjacent courses.

12. A thread marking device for a two-feed split-foot knitting machineincluding a receptacle containing a marking fluid and absorbent materialimmersed in the said fluid, thread guides on opposite sides of the saidreceptacle to maintain the said thread adjacent to the said markingmaterial, the thread in moving from the source of supply to the needlesof the knitting machine passing adjacent to the receptacle, incombination'with an automatically movable member for engaging the threadand moving it into contact with. the said marking fluid so that the saidthread shall be marked at each operation of the said movable member, theconstruction and operation being such that the thread markings incourses assist the operator in effecting the knitting of uniform fabricin adjacent courses.

13. A two-feed knitting machine adapted to knit courses in areciprocatory manner, said machine including means for automatically andperiodically marking a thread at least once during the knitting of eachcourse of reciprocatory knitting, the distance between adjacent threadmarkings representing the length of thread knitted into the fabricduring each course of of thread knitted in adjacent courses.

ROBERT E. LAWSON. ROY I. IDVEIL.

